Automotive Supplier Diversification Program

The Hon. A.L. McLACHLAN (15:01): My question is to the Minister for Automotive Transformation. Having regard to the guidelines dated 2014 for the Automotive Supplier Diversification Program, what measures has the government implemented to ensure recipients of grants under the program only spend grant moneys on eligible expenditure items? For example, will there be an audit program?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Manufacturing and Innovation, Minister for Automotive Transformation, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation) (15:02): I thank the honourable member for his question and his very significant interest in my portfolio areas. I do appreciate the interest he shows, and I am happy to have dinner with him sometime and talk about these things more.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: He's a very good friend of mine. In relation to the question about the state Automotive Supplier Diversification Program; that was the question, the particular program. With all agreements and grants that are given out in the manufacturing and automotive transformation portfolio areas there will be funding agreements that companies sign with the department in relation to how moneys are to be expended.

There are processes and milestones that generally go along with those agreements. It is generally the case that such agreements will have milestones and will have some process where those milestones are checked upon and further documentation required by the company. If there is a particular grant under that program that the member wishes to privately talk to me about, I can check if there is—

The Hon. I.K. Hunter: Perhaps you can raise it over entrée.

The Hon. K.J. MAHER: —one in particular over oysters Kilpatrick, perhaps, over entrée. As a general principle, there are milestones required in grant programs and requirements for reporting from recipients of grant programs.